New DVD MovieFactory 2 Update - no AC3 support again

[shardison]

DVD MovieFactory 2 Update Pack (Build Number: 2.12, Release Date: 2003/08/22)

I did this update. Now MF2 it converts my ac3 audio to PCM.

I checked the "do not covert compliant mpg files" etc.

No warning message, just converted at burn time.

Any suggestions? Can ac3 "support" be brought back?

EDIT: OK I found a thread below about lost ac3 support with this update and it just ends with a complete re-install as the answer. Anyone found another way around?

[emcd]

I found that you have to revert back to the previous version in order for DVDMF to pass thru video with AC-3 audio.

[gf]

Hi Shardison,
I know this is a really dumb question, but how can you tell the audio is PCM and not AC3?
Steve

[shardison]

Most movie players will tell you what type the sound is if you click through some menus and look.

On a DVD player, a "DIGITAL" light or other message will tell you that the sound is Dolby ac3 or DTS.

PCM sound makes for huge files. It's a shame that Ulead didn't at least default the conversion to mp2 sound.

The reason I want ac3 is that I want my home movie sound to work in all DVD player systems. Sometimes you don't get sound if there is no ac3 track to play.

[trhouse]

I have used Movie Factory 2 in the past. I am now using Sonic MyDvd 5.0 Deluxe. It is available as trial software. It can transcode PCM and Mpeg1 layer 2 audio to AC3 or accept AC3 without transcode. I use it for the same reasons. Compatibility and reduced size of the audio file. AC3 audio uses up 1/8 of the space of PCM and is dvd compliant.

[ctvideo]

Did you ever feel like you are screaming and no one is listening? I have been ranting about this on Ulead forum and Digital Media Net for two weeks and no seems to notice. As far as I can tell, this stems from the original relase of Movie Factory SE shipped with Media Studio Pro 7.0. That version would allow for AC3. It did lack some of the bells and whistles though. If you upgraded to full version of 2.0 you could still produce AC3. Ulead seems to have discovered this flaw in their software and decided to stop us all.
I simply unistalled version 2.0 and reinstalled my original version from download. All is working as is was.

[shardison]

Last night I re-installed MF2 and added a burner update, and all is well again in ac3 land.

Nice try Ulead. I'll skip your "updates" from here on out.

I can do everything I need to do now.

[ctvideo]

What I don't understand is, why would they give us the ability in the Special Edition that ships with MSP 7.0 and take it back from us when we decide to upgrade to the full edition. I think there should be an exception for those you have MSP 7.0

[Robert Simandl]

Rather than uninstall and reinstall the whole thing (minus the new 2.12 patch), I think I'm gonna try TMPGEnc DVD Author. That program will accept AC-3 audio without even having to mux it back with the video first.